The 13-time Pro Bowler goes on to say, “I applaud you for the things that you stood up for, my brother, everybody else can speak for you, but until you speak for yourself and demand what you want to do in life, it’s totally on you.”

The quarterback, who opted out of his contract with the 49ers in March, remains unsigned, and Kaepernick supporters claim he is being “blackballed” by the NFL because of his national anthem protests. However, Kaepernick has been silent on the issue of his playing again in the NFL.

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“The football field is our sanctuary,” Lewis said. “If you do nothing else, young man, get back on the football field and let your play speak for itself. And what you do off the field, don’t let too many people know because they are going to judge you anyway, no matter what you do, no matter if it’s good or bad.”

He continued, “I haven’t got anything against you. I wish you the best in life. I hope you chase whatever God got for you to chase. And once again, I applaud what you stood up for, because I’m in the streets every day.”

The two-time Super Bowl champion is no stranger to adversity: In 2000, he faced a murder charge in Atlanta that was dismissed after the trial began. “I made mistakes in my life,” Lewis told Kaepernick, “but I promise you if you look at my track record, the mistakes I’ve made I’ve never repeated twice.”

The Ravens value their former star’s opinion, as owner Steve Bisciotti told reporters Sunday that he had consulted Lewis in the decision-making process.